Motor Trend's The Goods: May Edition

This Month: Outdoor Gear From Cannondale, Best Made, and Nissan

With spring in full effect and with summertime just around the corner, we thought we'd share a few outdoorsy items that could be of good use in a few weeks' or months' time.

Bicyclists will take a liking to Cannondale's newest, most advanced mountain-conquering model, the Trigger 29er. It builds upon the brand's innovative suspension and lightweight technology, and will give any nasty trail a run for its money.

While a bit out of leftfield, we felt compelled to feature Best Made Co. 's hand-made axe due to its melding of beauty with function. Each one is as much a piece of American art as it is a rugged, purpose-built tool capable of splitting the toughest of wood.

Lastly, we chose to highlight accessories available to consumers via their local car dealer. For our purposes, our friends at Nissan North America shipped their high-quality tent that attaches to the 2013 Pathfinder's open tailgate (it's one of our newest long term test vehicles too).

Cannondale Trigger 29er

This isn't just any mountain bike. It's an "OverMountain" bike, which means it has the technology, engineering, and build quality to tackle just about anything that's put in its way. Engineers made sure to make it as stiff as possible with their oversized clamped thru-axles and double bearings on the seat stay. Yet, the Trigger 29er, with its 80-130mm of on-the-fly adjustable suspension travel and 29-inch wheels, is also lightweight, tough, and nimble. Plus, the proprietary Lefty front fork looks as awesome as it performs in the dirt.

Best Made Co. Strike Anywhere Axe

When you think axe, chance are you'll probably imagine the profile of the quintessential felling axe. Best Made Co. 's example is designed and built in New York using a combination of the best components available. Its four-pound Dayton pattern head is made from 5160-grade high-carbon American steel that's drop forged in North Carolina by fourth-generation craftsmen and its 35-inch helve is carved from Appalachian hickory. Each Strike Anywhere gets a red/white/black livery and is packaged inside a custom wooden crate filled with wood wool.

Nissan USA Genuine Accessories SUV Tent

Like camping? Have a Nissan Pathfinder or Murano? Well, you might want to consider this handy accessory. The 10-foot by 10-foot tent can connect to the SUV's open hatch for an even more capacious interior or function as a standalone tent. It has two large door and mesh windows too. The best part: When purchased from an authorized dealer, it's covered under a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first). Camping, or "glamping", will never be the same.

What is "The Goods"?
Our innate attraction to shiny new gear is why we've created this new monthly feature at Motortrend.com. We'll be highlighting all sorts of stuff, automotive-related and otherwise. We hope our recommendations will inspire, surprise, and delight you, and that you'll enjoy and recommend them to others.